CAMPCO delegation led by former Karnataka CM meets Modi, areca nut not to be banned in Gujarat(Video)

Gandhinagar, 6 August 2013

A delegation from Cocoa Marketing and Processing Cooperative (Campco) headed by former CM of Karnataka and leader of the opposition in the state legislative council D V Sadananda Gowda today met Gujarat CM Narendra Modi today. K S Eshwarappa, former deputy chief minister, Nalin Kumar Kateel, Mangalore MP, Konkodi Padmanabha, president, Campco, B Nagaraj Shetty, former minister and Suresh Bhandary, managing director, Campco are part of the delegation.

Maharashtra government has recently banned sale of areca nut and its allied products. Campco, a multi-state cooperative that represents interests of areca nut growers in Karnataka and Kerala is looking to protect its interests by exploring Gujarat that is one of the largest markets for white or “chaali” variety of areca nut.

The delegation members told Gujarat Chief Minister that they welcome the ban on Gutkha in Gujarat, Mahatashtra, Karnataka and other states for health reasons, but areca nut is used for other purposes too, and therefore it is improper to impose ban on it.

The delegation member further said that they protest Maharashtra government’s decision to ban areca nut. They said they wish that Gujarat government would not impose ban on areca nut and concern about farmers who grow areca nut will be taken into consideration.”

The Chief Minister heard representation of delegation members and said that all over in India including Gujarat, areca nut is majorly used in pooja paath and religious ceremonies, and therefore Gujarat has no intention to impose ban on areca nut, as it is not advisable to do so.

The delegation welcomed Chief Minister’s approach on this issue.